Mushrooming

Posted by Barbara on October 12, 2025 in Environment, Food, Leisure activities, Seasonal | 2 comments

I realise that this title could take the reader into any number of directions, particularly if we use the word in the figurative sense.  Am I about to launch into a tirade about the mushrooming results of anti-immigrant rhetoric? Or perhaps express my concern about the exponential rise in smartphone use amongst all sectors of society?  Or give a sober account of the growth in CO2 emissions and the looming consequences?

I am pleased to report that this week we took a happy break from societal issues and went mushrooming. Or foraging if you prefer, except that the sole aim was to find and pick some edible mushrooms. Now I am very aware how the average Brit views such an activity; we were all brought up not to pick mushrooms or fungi in general as if we did so we faced sickness if not death.  Fly agaric was such a strange term but the vivid red with white spots in the pictures spelt danger. Indeed it was actually extremely helpful that the lethal offender was dressed in a colour that spelt out alarm or worse.

However, the fact is that fear of wild mushrooms is not something that all societies share.  Step into continental Europe and the picture is very different: France, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Sweden – all these countries positively encourage mushrooming. In Sweden, for example, the freedom to roam, known as ‘allemansrätten,’ allows exploration of almost all public and private lands, making it easier to find a variety of mushroom species.  The French countryside is renowned for its cuisine and the abundance of mushroom species in its ecosystems, and collecting mushrooms there happens all the year round. There are morels in spring, chanterelles in summer, porcini in autumn, or the luxurious indulgence of truffles in winter. Italy also has a rich culinary culture centred around mushrooms.

But why limit yourself to Europe? Canada’s vast forests and diverse ecosystems make it a prime destination for mushroom hunting enthusiasts. The wilderness provides ample opportunities to forage for a variety of mushrooms, such as morels, chanterelles, lobster mushrooms and pine mushrooms.  In the US, the Pacific Northwest has abundant fungi varieties. Oregon and Washington’s lush forests offer a haven for mushroom enthusiasts, with diverse species like chanterelles, morels, and porcinis.

Then there’s Japan; the cool, damp weather in autumn allows sought-after species like matsutake, maitake, and shimeji mushrooms to flourish. In spring, varieties such as shiitake and nameko can be found.  And let’s not forget New Zealand; the forests of the West Coast are renowned for porcini and chanterelles and the Waikato area is known for pine mushrooms in its pine forests.

Now I am no mushroom expert, but I can spot a chanterelle if I see one, and we did collect some in the Surrey woods. And guess where we found a huge birch boletus with a diameter of around 15 cm?  Under a birch tree of course.  I don’t want anyone to fall ill, but just pointing out that providing you know what to look for, you could be in for a very tasty supper.